Ehime Scenic Spots | Ehime Matsuyama Castle (Iyo Matsuyama Castle), one of the 12 remaining castle towers in Japan

#castle Matsuyama Castle is a Japanese castle in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, also known as "Kanama Castle" and "Katsuyama Castle". In order to distinguish it from other Matsuyama Castles in Japan, it is also called "Iyo Matsuyama Castle". Much of the site is currently open as a park. The 21 existing buildings, including the castle keep, are designated as national important cultural properties, and the remains of the castle are designated as national historical sites. This is the only remaining complete castle building in Japan (Momoyama Culture style). The large castle keep, small castle tower, and side tower are connected to each other. The castle tower building complex, which thoroughly pursues the function of war readiness, ranks among the three largest continuous Hirayama castles in Japan. one. Matsuyama Castle is built on Mount Katsuyama, 132 meters above sea level, located in the center of Matsuyama. There are four walking hiking routes leading to Honmaru, but each of them is a continuous slope, which is relatively heavy for tourists. Most of them take cable cars or chairlifts to get there. It takes about 3 minutes by cable car and 6 minutes by chairlift to reach Chojodaira at Station 8. The castle is about a 10-minute walk from Chojo. The view from the castle is stunning, and the panoramic view from the top of the keep at 161 meters above sea level is not to be missed. You can enjoy the Seto Inland Sea to the west and the Ishizuchi Mountains to the south. The view is wide and the scenery is magnificent and beautiful. It is worth a visit to Matsuyama Castle in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku.